June 18, 2009

In the midst of the Great Depression, the first Southern Baptist church in Montgomery’s Capitol Heights community was established. In May 1934, 170 charter members met for the first time as Capitol Heights Baptist Church.

On May 17, 2009, about 500 people met to celebrate the Montgomery Baptist Association church’s 75th anniversary. In keeping with the theme for the day, “Faithful in the Past, Committed in the Future,” Pastor J. Warren Culver highlighted the fact that about 40 people from the church have gone on to serve in a full-time ministry vocation.

“It was a day for us to give thanks and glory to the Lord for the rich heritage of the church, yet we did not only reflect on the past. It was also a day to feel extremely challenged for the future,” Culver said.

Guest speaker Calvin Kelly, pastor of Valleydale Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association, delivered the morning’s message, “The Future Is Now.” He served on the Capitol Heights Baptist staff in the summers of 1973 and 1974 and returned with his wife, Paula, who grew up in the church, to take part in the celebration.

David Durham, the grandson of Capitol Heights Baptist’s first pastor, Robert Edge, led the special music.

“My vision for the church is that we would continue to be faithful to the mission and ministry we have had for these 75 years,” Culver said.